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Diogo Moreira has been confirmed for the factory Honda HRC Castrol MotoGP squad in 2027, a promotion that crowns an exceptionally fast rise through the Grand Prix ranks. His performance this season with LCR Honda has also put him well clear of rivals in the race for **2026 Rookie of the Year**.
From Moto3 to a factory seat in five years
Moreira first appeared in the Moto3 World Championship in 2022 and moved up to Moto2 in 2024. He claimed the Moto2 title the following year, compiling a tally of five wins and 13 podiums across the two intermediate classes.
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That record earned him an HRC agreement that placed him with the **LCR Honda** team for the current season, all within his fifth year on the Grand Prix stage. The rapid progression underscores how quickly he has adapted at each level.
Performance this season that sealed the promotion
After methodically learning the RC213V, Moreira broke into the top ten at the Catalan Grand Prix and has repeatedly been the leading Honda in races since. A Sprint podium at Motegi — Honda’s home round — strengthened the argument that he was ready for a factory role.
As of this writing, Moreira has outscored fellow rookie Toprak Razgatlıoğlu by a wide margin, 74 to 18. With Razgatlıoğlu’s season curtailed by injury, Moreira’s hold on the rookie crown is effectively unassailable.
“It is a fantastic feeling to arrive with the factory Honda HRC team in MotoGP, it is something that every rider dreams of when they are young,” Moreira said, thanking both HRC and the LCR squad, which he called “crucial” to his adaptation to the premier class. “I am looking forward to next year and to helping Honda HRC return to where they must be.”
Honda cites adaptability as a key asset
Yuzuru Ishikawa, general manager of HRC’s Motorcycle Racing Division, highlighted Moreira’s capacity to adjust across machinery — from motocross through Moto3 and Moto2 to MotoGP — as a decisive factor in the signing. He also pointed to the approaching technical changes in 2027.
“We have a highly competitive rider line-up next season across Honda HRC Castrol and the LCR Team,” Ishikawa said. “I am sure that all of these riders will push each other not only to raise their level on track, but also to help HRC’s engineers create the best bike possible in this new era of racing.”
Moreira will join Fabio Quartararo at **Honda HRC Castrol** in 2027, forming a factory pairing that HRC expects will be competitive as the sport moves into the new regulations.
LCR’s seat to be filled by David Alonso
With Moreira promoted, the LCR Honda cockpit will be taken by **David Alonso**, who signed with HRC in July. Alonso has followed a similarly rapid trajectory: third in his first full Moto3 season in 2023, then Moto3 champion in 2024 with 14 wins in 20 races.
The Colombian moved into Moto2 in 2025 and, according to current season tallies, has collected two wins and nine podiums across nearly two full seasons at that level. His arrival at LCR continues the trend of young talents moving quickly through the categories.
